Separator



United States Patent 3,321,002 EPARATOR Aifred Winhler, Dusseldorf, Germany, assignor to (Iwielong and Winhier lingenierburo, Dusseldorf, Germany Filed Oct. 19, 1965, tier. No. 498,042 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 20, 1964, C 34,145; Aug. 21, 1965, C 36,704, 12 Claims. (Cl. 159-3) The present invention relates to a separator. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus for separating liquid which comprises two fractions of which one is evaporable and constitutes the carrier for the other.

Apparatus of the type mentioned above is used for various purposes, of which one may be the production of potable water from sea water. Generally, such apparatus may find use in any application in which a non-evaporable fraction is to be removed in solid form, or separated from an evaporable liquid fraction which acts as carrier for it.

Devices of this type are known to the art. However, they suffer from various shortcomings, not the least of which is their inability to operate with the required economy. They are also generally very large, requiring much plant space, and are of complicated construction which makes them expensive.

It is the general object of the present invention to overcome the various drawbacks inherent in such prior-art devices.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a separator as mentioned above which is extremely simple in its construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which requires relatively little heat.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as described above whose overall dimensions are relatively small, so that it may selectively be used as a stationary or a portable unit.

Yet an additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as hereabove discussed, which as a byproduct will liberate steam that may be used for driving steam-operable devices.

Further objects of the invention are to utilize the heat of the steam, which the apparatus produces, for separating the two fractions and to provide an apparatus of the above-described type in which temperature-sensitive liquids or temperature-sensitive liquid fractions can be separated from one another.

In accordance with one feature of the invention there is provided an apparatus for separating liquids which comprise two fractions, of which one is evaporable and constitutes the carrier for the other. Such apparatus may comprise, in accordance with one feature of the invention, an elongated tubing coil having a series of convolutions whose cross-section increases in the direction from one towards the other opposite end of the coil, and having an inlet opening at the one end and a discharge opening at the other end. The apparatus may further comprise means for admitting a liquid to be separated into the inlet opening in pressurized state for advancement to the discharge opening, a separating chamber having a lower portion communicating with the discharge opening, and an upper portion, each of said portions having an outlet, and means for heating the coils to such temperature that at least a major part of the evaporable fraction is evaporated during advancement thereof through the coil. The resulting steam will then issue from the outlet of the upper portion of the separating chamber whereas the other, i.e., the non-evaporable fraction of the thus-treated liquid, will accumulate in the lower portion of the separating chamber and leave the same through the outlet of the lower portion.

ice

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section through a separator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1, showing a modified embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a separating arrangement utilizing the inventive device; and

FIG. 4 shows another arrangement also utilizing the inventive device, the views of FIGS. 3 and 4 both being schematic.

Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that reference numeral 1 indicates a tubing coil 1 which in the instant embodiment has its longitudinal axis disposed in a horizontal plane. The coil 1 is of conical configuration, that is it diverges outwardly from one end to the other. The tubing from which the coil 1 is constructed will preferably consist of a non-corrodable heat-resistant material, and the coil is disposed in a complementary jacket 2 by means of spacers which are not shown. At the larger end of the coil and of the surrounding jacket there is provided a frustoconical section or end wall 3 which is rigidly and fluidtightly connected with a neck 6' of separating chamber 6. Such connection may be accomplished by welding and it will be understood that the member 3 is equally tightly connected to the jacket 2. A burner tube 4 extends transversely through the chamber and communicates at its front or discharge end with the space defined by the jacket and the coil 1 disposed therein. The burner tube 4 is surrounded by a heat shield 5, which is preferably concentric therewith and which passes through the member 3 in the manner of burner tube 4, and which heat shield 5 will also be welded to the end wall 3 at the point at which it passes therethrough.

The coil 1 has at its Wider end a discharge opening 8 which is downwardly directed into a lower portion of the chamber 6, such lower portion being provided with an outlet opening 11. The chamber 6 is also provided, as will be seen from the drawing, with an upper portion which in turn has an outlet opening 9. The discharge opening 8 of the coil 1 is disposed in the chamber 6 at a level below the burner tube 4 and the heat shield 5.

The wall defining the upper portion of chamber 6 is formed with a recess or groove 10 which communicates with the exterior of the chamber and is provided with an outlet lit. The groove it), of which there may of course be several, is preferably slanted toward the outlet 10" and is provided to collect condensate in a manner which will be described later on.

In operation of the inventive separator, liquid, which is to be separated into the two fractions, is introduced under pressure at the narrower end of the coil through the inlet opening 7 thereof. As the liquid flows under pressure through the coil, it will begin to evaporate under the influence of the heat which is introduced into the interior of the coil, that is into the space defined by the convolutions thereof. The heat, it should be noted, is allowed to escape through the outlet means 12 at the narrowest end of the jacket 2. As the liquid passes through the coil 1 and approaches the wider end thereof, the degree of evaporation increases, whereby the concentration of the non-evaporated fraction in the remaining quantity of the carrier liquid also increases. While it could ordinarily be assumed that the non-evaporated fraction might form deposits on the inside of the tube from which the coil 1 is wound, such deposits eventually closing the tube and preventing further passage of the liquid, this has been found not to be true since with the increasing degree of evaporation the speed or velocity of flow also increases. Thus, the speed of the mixture consisting of steam, the remaining evaporable liquid carrier and the non-evaporated fraction flows at an increasingly faster rate as it approaches the wider end and therewith the discharge opening 8 of coil 1. Thus, the non-evaporable fraction is carried along and its premature settling and formation of encrustations within the coil is prevented.

It has been found that the flow pattern of the heated carrier introduced into the interior of the coil 1 by the burner tube 4 corresponds approximately to the conical configuration of the coil 1. In other words, there is a volume decrease as the heated carrier passes towards the narrower end of coil 1. This assures that heat transfer between the heated space within coil 1 and the wall of the tube from which the coil 1 is constituted will be substantially identical at all points along the axial extension of coil 1. This makes it possible to so regulate the admission of heat into the coil 1 that no hot-spots occur at any point of the coil; in other words, no local temperature elevation in excess of that at other points will occur, and this is desirable since such excessive heating at local points would result in the deposition of the non-evaporable fraction at this point and in the formation of encrustations. Thus, this substantially identical heat transfer along the axial extension of coil 1 is an important factor in the prevention of premature settlement of the non-evaporable fraction.

Upon exiting through the discharge opening 8 into the chamber 1, the nonevaporated fraction, the steam and whatever may remain of the liquid carrier are separated. This is so because the non-evaporable fraction has a higher specific weight than the steam and whatever remains of the liquid carrier. Thus, the non-evaporable fraction will fall into the lower section of the chamber 6 where it will be removed through the outlet 11. At the same time the steam will rise in the chamber 6 to the upper portion thereof and will be permitted to leave through the outlet 9.

As a result of the fact that the burner tube 4 with its heat shield 5 passses through the upper part of chamber 6, but in the proximity of the discharge opening 8 of coil 1, the formation of condensation from the steam in the chamber 6 is largely prevented. On the other hand, any remaining liquid carrier which may enter the chamher 6 from the coil 1, will be a least partially evaporated upon such entry. By the same token any condensate which may form in the lower portion of the chamber 6 will be completely or substantially completely evaporated. If condensation of steam takes place in the upper portion of the chamber 6 despite the precautions taken, then the condensate will collect in the groove or grooves and will be thereby led out of the chamber.

Turning now to FIG. 2 it will be seen that this represents an embodiment of the chamber 6 which is somewhat modified from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Basically, the chamber 6 is the same as FIG. 1 and the burner tube and heat shield are arranged in the same manner. However, a collector means, such as a funnelshaped element 11, is arranged in the lower portion of chamber 6 with spacing from the peripheral wall 6" thereof. Thus, there is defined between the peripheral wall 6 of chamber 6 and the peripheral wall of the funnel-shaped collecting member 11' an annular space which, it will be seen, is provided with an outlet 11". The discharge opening 8' of the coil 1 has at its outermost end an increased cross-sectional area. In other Words, it becomes larger in the direction toward the outer end, and faces the collector member 11. The widening of the opening 8 results in a reduction of the flow velocity of the discharged material and it will be seen that the imixture of steam, non-evaporated fraction and whatever may remain of the carrier will initially be received in the member 11. From there, the steam will rise past the heat shield 5 and the burner tube 4 into the upper portion of the chamber 6 and will then be evacuated through the outlet 9 thereof. During such rising the steam can carry with it any remaining liquid carrier in form of a fog, and said fog will be at least partially evaporated as it passes by the burner tube 4- and the heat shield 5. Any condensate which may form in the lower portion of the chamber 6 will form in the annular space between the member 11 and the wall portion 6 and will then pass from this annular space through the outlet opening 11".

Turning now to FIG. 3 it will be seen that there is shown diagrammatically an arrangement utilizing the inventive separator. FIG. 3 shows how the steam liberated in chamber 6 may be utilized for pre-heating the liquid which is subsequently to be separated into its fractions, and how the condensate resulting from the steam can be collected.

A container 13 is provided into which the liquid to be treated is fed by means of the conduit 14. From the container 13 the liquid is passed through conduit 15 to the pump 16 which in turn passes it through conduit 17 into the low temperature side of a heat-exchanger 18, from where it moves via the conduit 19 into the coil 1 through the inlet opening 7 thereof.

In the inventive separator the separation of the liquid into its fractions takes place in the manner as described heretofore with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. After the steam leaves the upper portion of chamber 6 through the outlet opening 9 thereof, and assuming that the valve 21 is closed and the valve 22 is open, the steam will pass through the conduits 20 and 23 to the primary side of the heat-exchanger 18, and from there through conduit 24 and the open valve 26 as condensate to the condensate collector 27 From the condensate collector 27 the condensate passes through the conduit 28 and is led off for whatever use is required.

It is also possible to drive a steam-operable machine with the steam leaving the chamber 6, rather than merely collecting the condensate. If such is the case, then the chamber 6 may be constructed as a pressure chamber and it will be seen suitable means must then be provided for creating and varying pressure therein. Such means are well .known per se and need not be further described. The burner tube 4 and the heat produced therein must then be so regulatable that the heat which is admitted from the burner tube 4 and which, of course, will always heat the chamber 6 in addition to the coil 1, increases the temperature of the steam within the chamber 6. If, now, the valve 22 is closed and the valve 21 is opened, the steam will pass into the steam-operated machine 29. While driving this machine 29, some steam will condense and the mixture of steam and condensate will pass through the open valve 30 and the conduit 31 into the conduit 23,

and from there through the heat-exchanger 8 into the condensate collector 27, as described heretofore.

As far as condensate collected in the groove 10 (FIG. 1) and in the lower annular space of chamber 6 (FIG. 2) is concerned, it will be seen that this is collected in a second condensate collector 32 and is conducted from there by the conduit 33 to the conduit 23 from whence it passes to the condensate collector 27. Since it is advantageous to provide a means by which the inventive device and indeed the entire arrangement of FIG. 3 can be cleaned whenever required, the conduit 24 which extends intermediate the heat-exchanger 18 and the condensate collector 27 is provided with a valve 26 which closes the flow of condensate to the collector 27, and with a bypass conduit having a valve 25 which permits the condensate to pass into the storage container 13 so that in this manner condensate may be recirculated throughout the entire arrangement for cleaning purposes.

Coming, finally, to FIG. 4 it will be seen that this figure shows another arrangement utilizing the inventive separator. The arrangement of FIG. 4 may be used, for instance, for gaining drinking water from salt water, and it will be seen that it is also possible with this arrangement to utilize the steam generated for producing electric energy, as well as to obtain salt by operation of the arrangement.

As in the case of FIG. 3, the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 has a container 13 which will be filled with salt water. This salt water will be fed via the conduit 15 and the pump 16 through the conduit 17 to the low temperature side of the heat-exchanger 18, and from here via the conduit 34 and the valve 35 to the vacuum evaporator 36.

Collecting containers 37 and 38 are provided and these, as well as the vessel 39 which is provided for pressure equalization, are connected by the conduits 41, 42 and 43 with a vacuum pump 40, and are thereby maintained at a pressure which is lower than the pressure of the ambient atmosphere. The same is true of the vacuum evaporator 36 which is connected with the storage containers 37 and 38 via the conduits 44 and 45, and is also maintained at a pressure lower than the ambient atmosphere.

. The salt water is fed to the vacuum evaporator 36 and is evaporated to a considerable extent therein. The steam which is produced therein is fed via a conduit 44 to the heat-exchanger 18, and from there to the conduit 45 and into the storage containers 37 and 38 via the valves 47 and 46. That portion of the salt water which is not evaporated, and which now contains a higher concentration of salt and other elements, will pass into the pressure equalization gate or chamber 39 upon opening of the valve 48 in conduit 49. After the pressure equalization gate 39 is filled, the valves 48 and 52 are closed and the valve 50 is then opened. If, now, the valve 51 is sub sequently opened, then the liquid will flow into the collector 53 via the conduit 51'. From there it is fed via the pump 55 and the regulating valve 56 through the conduit 57, and it will be seen that in the course of this path it must circulate through a pipe 58 which is convoluted about the lower portion of the chamber 6. This arrangement is provided so that the pipe 58 will be heated by the lower portion of the chamber 6 and will thereby preheat the liquid to be separated. This liquid then passes through the conduit 19 into the inlet opening 7 of the coil 1 and is separated into its fractions as disclosed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The salt obtained in the chamber 6 passes through the outlet opening 11 of the lower portion of chamber 6 in the form of a viscous fluid which has approximately the consistency of syrup. It is conducted to a receptacle 59 for further disposition.

However, it has been mentioned before and will be clear from FIG. 4, that it is possible to further utilize the arrangement beyond obtaining salt and drinking water. Specifically, it is possible to generate electricity and for this purpose the valve 22 is closed and the valve 21 is opened. The steam will then pass from the outlet opening 9 of chamber 6 into the conduit 20, and from there into a steam-operable machine, such as a steam turbine 29. While driving the steam turbine 29 the steam will partially condense and the steam-and-condensate mixture will leave the turbine 29 through the conduit 31 and will flow to conduit 23. From here it will be conducted through the heat exchanger and into the condensate collector 27 in the manner described with reference to FIG. 3. The steam which enters the turbine 29 has already been freed of salt and other elements normally contained in the salt water, so that the corrosive influence of salt water on such a device as the turbine has thereby been overcome.

The storage containers 37 and 38 are successively emptied into the condensate collector 27. For this purpose the valves 60 and 46 are closed and the valves 61 and 62 are opened so that container 38 will empty into the condensate container 27 via the conduit 63. After the container 38 is emptied, the valves 62 and 61 are closed and valves 60 and 46 are opened. Thereafter, the container 37 is emptied by closing valves 66 and 47 and opening valves 64 and 65, so that the condensate can flow into the condensate collector selector through the conduit 63.

It will be understood that the condensate in condensate container 27 may be utilized for various purposes. If the valve 69 is closed, then the condensate will flow off through the valve 68 and the conduit 67. However, if the condensate is to be utilized as drinking water, it may be desirable to treat it further, and for this purpose the valve 68 is closed and the valve 69 is opened so that the condensate will pass through a dosing device 70 which can add trace elements to the condensate and thus prepare it as drinking water which may then .be conducted into a water system or to a similar point of consumption.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of separator differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a separator, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this in vention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for separating liquids which comprise two fractions, of which one is evapora'ble and constitutes the carrier for the other, comprising an elongated spirally wound, divergent tubing coil having a series of convolutions of increasing, encompassed, transverse area in the direction from one toward the other axial end of said coil and further having a feed inlet opening at. said one end and a discharge opening at said other end; means for admitting a liquid to be separated into said feed inlet opening in pressurized state for advancement to said discharge opening; a separating chamber having a lower portion communicating with said discharge opening, and an upper portion, the upper of said portions having a vapor outlet and the lower portion having a liquid outlet; and heating means for heating said coil to such temperature that at least a major part of the evaporable carrier is evaporated during advancement thereof through. said coil, so that the resulting steam issues from said outlet of the upper portion of said separating chamber whereas the other fraction of the thus treated liquid accumulates in said lower portion of the separating chamber and leaves said chamber through the outlet of said lower portion, said heating means being substantially received within said chamber to heat the same without communicating there-with and having an outlet for hot gas communicating only with the space defined by the convolutions of said coil adjacent said other axial end thereof so that said coil is directly heated by said hot gas while said chamber is indirectly heated as a result of arrangement of said heating means therewithin.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising means for collecting and removing condensate from said upper portion of said chamber.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising jacket means surrounding said coil exteriorly thereof and fluid-tightly isolated from said chamber.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said heating means comprises a burner tube having a discharge end communicating with said space within said jacket means and shielding means concentrically surrounding said burner tube and fluid-tightly isolating the same from said chamber.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said burner tube is received within said chamber at a given level, and wherein said discharge opening on said coil communicates with said chamber at a level below said given level. v

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said discharge opening faces toward said lower portion of said chamber.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising collector means arranged within said lower portion of said chamber means, spaced from the peripheral wall thereof, and having an inlet opening arranged 'to receive 'said other .fraction from said discharge opening, and an outlet opening directly communicating with said outlet of the lower portion and. fluid-tightly connected with the peripheral wall surrounding said outlet.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said collector means define with said peripheral wall an annular space surrounding the collector means, and wherein said peripheral wall is provided with an aperture therethrough communicating with said annular space.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1., and wherein said means for admitting liquid into said feed inlet opening comprises conduit means carrying said liquid to the inlet opening, and said apparatus further comprising heatexchanger means communicating with said vapor outlet at said upper portion of the chamber for receiving steam therefrom said heat exchanger being associated with said conduit means in indirect heat-exchanging relationship 2; so as to preheat the liquid passing therethrough prior to entry of such liquid into said inlet opening.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 9; and further comprising a steam-operable machine interposed between said 5 vapor outlet of the upper portion and said heat-exchanger means so as to be driven by said steam prior to passage thereof to said heat-exchanger means.

I11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 and second heatexchanger means interposed between said first heat- 10 exchanger means and said inlet opening of said coil and being arranged in indirect heat-exchanging relationship with said chamber, said second heat-exchanger means being connected in said conduit means whereby said liquid will pass through said second heat-exchanger means as to be heated thereby.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, said second heatexchanger means comprising pipe means convoluted about the lower portion of said chamber, said liquid passing through said pipe means.

FOREIGN PATENTS 10/1929 France. 4/1954 France.

NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner.

WILBUR L. BASCOMB, JR., Examiner.

J. SOF'ER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS WHICH COMPRISE TWO FRACTIONS, OF WHICH ONE IS EVAPORABLE AND CONSTITUTES THE CARRIER FOR THE OTHER, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SPIRALLY WOUND, DIVERGENT TUBING COIL HAVING A SERIES OF CONVOLUTIONS OF INCREASING, ENCOMPASSED, TRANSVERSE AREA IN THE DIRECTION FROM ONE TOWARD THE OTHER AXIAL END OF SAID COIL AND FURTHER HAVING A FEED INLET OPENING AT SAID ONE END AND A DISCHARGE OPENING AT SAID OTHER END; MEANS FOR ADMITTING A LIQUID TO BE SEPARATED INTO SAID FEED INLET OPENING IN PRESSURIZED STATE FOR ADVANCEMENT TO SAID DISCHARGE OPENING; A SEPARATING CHAMBER HAVING A LOWER PORTION COMMUNICATING WITH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, AND AN UPPER PORTION, THE UPPER OF SAID PORTION HAVING A VAPOR OUTLET AND THE LOWER PORTION HAVING A LIQUID OUTLET; AND HEAT ING MEANS FOR HEATING SAID COIL TO SUCH TEMPERATURE THAT AT LEAST A MAJOR PART OF THE EVAPORABLE CARRIED IS EVAPORATED DURING ADVANCEMENT THEREOF THROUGH SAID COIL, SO THAT THE RESULTING STEAM ISSUES FROM SAID OUTLET OF THE UPPER PORTION OF THE SAID SEPARATING CHAMBER WHEREAS THE OTHER FRACTION OF THE THUS-TREATED LIQUID ACCUMULATES IN SAID LOWER PORTION OF THE SEPARATING CHAMBER AND LEAVES SAID CHAMBER THROUGH THE OUTLET OF SAID LOWER PORTION, SAID HEATING MEANS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY RECEIVED WITHIN, SAID CHAMBER TO HEAT THE SAME WITHOUT COMMUNICATING THEREWITH AND HAVING AN OUTLET FOR HOT GAS COMMUNICATING ONLY WITH THE SPACE DEFINED BY THE CONVOLUTIONS OF SAID COIL ADJACENT SAID OTHER AXIAL END THEREOF SO THAT SAID COIL IS DIRECTLY HEATED BY SAID HOT GAS WHILE SAID CHAMBER IS INDIRECTLY HEATED AS A RESULT OF ARRANGEMENT OF SAID HEATING MEANS THEREWITHIN. 